The Meadows School of the Arts, formally established in 1969 at SMU in Dallas, has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. Learn more about SMU Meadows

Meadows serves the public as a significant cultural center by presenting more than 400 events annually for the Dallas community and surrounding region. Read more about upcoming events and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, "This Week at Meadows".

The Meadows School of the Arts, formally established in 1969 at SMU in Dallas, has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. Learn more about SMU Meadows

Meadows serves the public as a significant cultural center by presenting more than 400 events annually for the Dallas community and surrounding region. Read more about upcoming events and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, "This Week at Meadows".

Discount tickets to Season 2, June 21-24, available to SMU faculty, staff, students and alumni

The Bruce Wood Dance Project’s (BWDP) Season 2, to be presented June 21-24 at the Montgomery Arts Theater at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, will feature the world premiere of a new work by SMU alumnus Joshua L. Peugh (’06) and performances by seven SMU alumni and undergraduates who are members of the Bruce Wood dance corps. Season 2 will include two completely different programs, including three premieres and three favorites from Wood’s renowned repertoire.

Program 1 opens with Peugh’s Slump, a zany, dark satire that captures the nuances of human courtship and its persistent repetition. This intriguing dance is set to a mix of Klezmer music and songs by Yma Sumac and Ella Fitzgerald. Program 1 also features the world premiere of Wood’s I’m My Brother’s Keeper, a poignant study of three male relationships, and his 2001 work, Lovett, a quintessentially Texas tale. Program 1 performances are June 21 and 23 at 8 p.m.

Program 2 will include Wood’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Follow Me, a tribute to U.S. soldiers, and conclude with the world premiere of Wood’s The Day of Small Things, a work expressing themes of gratitude and beauty. Program 2 performances are June 22 and 24 at 8 p.m.

BWDP is offering a $5.00 discount to SMU faculty, staff, students, and alumni; please use the promo code SMU (in call caps) when ordering. Tickets are available online at www.brucewoodance.com or by phone at 214.428.2263. Regular prices are $35- $45, and $100 for premium seating. Special discount combo tickets for Program 1 + 2 at the $35 and $45 levels are also available.

BWDP AND SMU
In 2011, Artistic Director Bruce Wood invited Joshua Peugh to join BWDP as an associate choreographer and performer. Wood and Peugh met when Peugh was invited to present his work Shuffle at the 2011 SMU Fall Dance Concert, celebrating the university’s 100th anniversary. Wood was impressed with Peugh’s original artistic voice and abilities. Since graduating from SMU, Peugh had been in Seoul, South Korea, where he danced with the Universal Ballet Company and went on to co-found his own contemporary troupe, Dark Circles Contemporary. At Wood’s invitation, Peugh has moved back to Dallas to pursue his dance career from North Texas. Over the past several years, Peugh has received several awards for his outstanding choreography. His work has been produced in Korea, Japan, and now Dallas.

“We have developed a close relationship with SMU’s dance program over the past several years and very much appreciate their support and collaboration with us,” said Gayle Halperin, president of the Bruce Wood Dance Project. “In fact, half of our dance company members are either SMU alums, current students or incoming students. The alums have gone on to have amazing careers and become strong performers. They are incredible role models!”

The BWDP Company consists of 16 dancers, including the following SMU alumni and undergraduates:

Jennifer Mabus, an SMU 1994 graduate, is on the dance faculty of Booker T. Washington HSPVA in Dallas. Mabus previously danced with Battleworks Dance Company and Takè Dance, among others, in New York City. Mabus has been dancing with BWDP for two seasons.

Larry Lane, an SMU 1976 theatre alumnus, made his professional debut in the musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas working with renowned choreographer/director Tommy Tune. After successful Broadway and Off- Broadway careers, Lane became a certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor, and is now known as one of the top instructors in the nation. Lane is featured in Wood’s new all-male work, I'm My Brother's Keeper.

Albert Drake graduated from SMU in spring 2012 with a B.A. in dance performance. Drake is an extraordinary dancer and has worked closely with Wood for two years. At SMU, Drake performed leading roles in acclaimed works by Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Arthur Mitchell, Martha Graham and dance faculty members. He also choreographed works for the Brown Bag Dance Series and the 2012 Senior Sharp Show.

Harry Feril is an SMU senior dance major who graduated from the dance cluster of Booker T. Washington HSPVA. A dedicated and hard-working dancer, Feril has performed in distinguished works by renowned choreographers on the SMU faculty and by guest artists. Feril has worked with BWDP for two seasons.

Dallas Blagg is currently pursuing a B.A. degree in finance at SMU. A brilliant dancer, Blagg has danced professionally with the Zurich Ballet, Morphoses: The Christopher Wheeldon Company, and The National Ballet of Canada. He first performed with BWDP at “A Gathering: The Dallas Arts Community Reflects on 30 Years of AIDS” in December 2011.

Mallory Ketch is an incoming freshman to the SMU Dance Division. A Dallas native, Ketch began her training at the Dallas Dance Academy and, at age 13, received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School’s Trainee Program in New York. She went on to study at renowned summer intensives and with Darla Hoover at Ballet Academy East. Ketch moved back home in 2010, teaches at Park Cities Dance, and has danced with BWDP for two years.

Christie Sullivan, the rehearsal director of BWDP, received her B.F.A. in dance performance from SMU. Sullivan danced with the Bruce Wood Dance Company for nine seasons and went on its three national tours. She currently is on the Fine Arts Department faculty at the Hockaday School.